Download Blepharitis Blepharitis is a chronic inflammation of the eyelids. It is

Blepharitis
Blepharitis is a chronic inflammation of the eyelids. It is one of the most common disorders of
the eye and is often the underlying reason for eye discomfort, redness and tearing. Blepharitis
can begin in early childhood and continue throughout your life, or it can develop later in life.
In persons with blepharitis, the upper and lower eyelids are coated with oily debris and bacteria
near the base of the eyelashes, causing irritation and inflammation.
Symptoms
The symptoms of blepharitis can vary from mild to severe. Sometimes there is only minor
irritation or itching, but some people experience redness, stinging, tearing and burning. Other
symptoms include sensitivity to light, or a sandy, gritty sensation in the eye that is worst upon
waking. Blepharitis can lead to more serious complications, such as inflammation of the eye
tissues, particularly the cornea.
There are three forms of blepharitis, Staphylococcal, Seborrheic and Meibomian Gland
Dysfunction. Each can cause the listed eye irritations listed above, and also has the following
symptoms…
Staphylococcal - scaling and crusting along the eyelashes
Seborrheic – greasy scaling along the eyelashes
MGD – pouting and plugging of the Meibomian gland openings in the eyelids
Causes
Bacteria reside on the surface of everyone’s skin. In some people, this bacteria is overactive at
the base of the eyelashes, resulting in irritation and the formation of scales and particles along
the lashes and eyelids. Blepharitis is often associated with the over-activity of oil glands near the
eyes.
Blepharitis is more common in people who have a tendency toward oily skin, dandruff or dry
eyes. It is also frequently associated with skin conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and
rosacea. Use of an oral medication for severe acne, isotretinoin, has also been associated with
blepharitis.
Treatment
There is no cure for the chronic condition of blepharitis, but the symptoms can be treated and
controlled. Treatment consists of 2 phases, the acute phase and the maintenance phase. In the
acute phase, we use intensive therapy to bring the disease under control. This may involve the
short-term use of steroid eye drops to lessen inflammation and antibiotics (either taken internally
or used as an ointment) to decrease the bacterial content of the eyelids.
The maintenance phase is the treatment that will best keep the disease under control. It involves
daily care of your eyes and eyelids through warm compresses and eyelid cleaning. At least
twice a day, you will use a wet, warm washcloth as a compress to soften and loosen scales and
debris around the eye and to liquefy oily secretions from the eyelid’s glands. If you have MGD
type blepharitis, we will also teach you how to massage your eyelids during the use of the
compresses in order to keep the Meibomian glands unclogged.
After the compresses, you will then clean the eyelids with a washcloth to remove debris in which
bacteria could grow and to help reduce tear evaporation so that your eyes don’t become dry.
These simple, daily hygiene and massage techniques are the key to controlling the symptoms of
blepharitis. They will also decrease the need for other medications.